3/26/03-A bill that offers relief to Kentucky truckers who had faced heavy usage taxes was signed by the governor March 18 and will become law Oct. 1, 2003.
Registration fee increases go into effect July 1, 2003.
HB293, now Chapter 124, contains an amendment that would exempt truckers from the tax, which can run as high as $6,000 on a tractor-trailer.
The bill was particularly important to Kentucky truckers who base plated their rigs in other states. Recent disputes among members of the IRP, a reciprocal agreement between states, were forcing those drivers to get base plated in their home states.
While some states imposed a sales tax on trucks, Kentucky's was a usage tax, meaning that instead of paying only on the sale or purchase of a truck, the tax was imposed on the current value of any truck moving into the state.
Some Kentucky truckers would have faced tax bills in the thousands.

3/13/03-A bill to offer relief to Kentucky truckers facing heavy usage taxes in that state has passed through the General Assembly and is on its way to the governor for his signature.
HB293 has an amendment that would exempt truckers from the tax, which can run as high as $6,000 on a tractor-trailer.
On March 11, the bill passed the Senate, went to conference committee and was approved by both houses. The Senate vote was 35-0, and the House vote was 80-6.

3/6/03-Efforts are moving forward in Kentucky to aid truckers facing heavy usage taxes in that state.
The current tax can run up to $6,000 on a $110,000 truck.
Amendments exempting truckers from the tax were added to two bills, HB255 and HB293.
HB255 passed the Senate 30-1 March 5 and is on its way back to the House. If the House concurs with the amendment, it will go to the governor for his signature.
HB293 was given a stamp of approval by the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee, which passed it on to the Rules Committee. That panel must approve the measure before it can go to the full Senate.
Both bills would exempt trucks from the usage tax; HB293 would increase registration fees on trucks to make up for the lost revenue, while HB255 would not increase the fees.
For either bill to make it back to the House or become law, it must first pass the Senate by today.
For bill status, call 1-877-215-0023.

3/4/03-State senators have added a provision to a bill that would give truckers a break from heavy usage taxes in the state.
The tax relief had been offered earlier in HB349. However, that bill's prospects were considered uncertain, and supporters said they hoped to amend its provisions into a bill in the Senate.
That effort bore fruit March 3 when a provision to exempt large trucks from the state's usage tax was added to HB293. The amended version of the bill would exempt semis larger than 40,000 pounds from the usage tax, and would increase registration fees $150 a year for the largest trucks, while the next three weight categories would see registration fees rise $125 a year. Those registration fees would be subject to apportionment.
The amendment to HB293 passed the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee by a unanimous vote.
Under the rules for this session, for an amended bill to become law, it must first pass the Senate before Thursday, March 6, and then pass the House.
It is vital you contact the Senate Rules Committee members as well as members of the full Senate and let them know how important this bills is to you as a Kentucky trucker.

Senate Rules Committee members to contact:

Sen. David L. Williams, Chair
Sen. Daniel Kelly, Vice Chair
Sen. Charlie Borders
Sen. Bob Jackson
Sen. Richard Roeding
Sen. Elizabeth Tori
Sen. Johnny Ray Turner
Sen. Ed Worley

For contact information for the committee members and the full Senate, visit www.lrc.state.ky.us/senate/senadd.htm, or call OOIDA's membership department at 1-800-444-5791 and they'll look it up.